Human creativity is a unique and valuable skill that sets us apart from artificial intelligence (A.I.). While A.I. can perform specific tasks more efficiently and accurately than humans, it cannot think outside the box and generate new ideas.
Developing and honing our creative skills ensures that we remain valuable in a world where A.I. is becoming increasingly prevalent. Additionally, by using our creativity to create new and innovative solutions, we can guard against the possibility of A.I. taking over our jobs and society.
A new survey shows that most Americans think that being creative is the key to keeping their job safe from being taken over by AI.
The survey, conducted by the Academy of Art University, asked over 1,000 people aged 18-65 and found that more than half (54%) believe that being creative is the best way to have a long-lasting career.
They think that creative skills are more valuable than physical or technical skills because they can’t be replaced by AI or robots in the workplace. This shows how important it is to work on being creative in today’s job market.
“This survey is a clear reminder of the importance of valuing creativity and cultivating art and design skills in the age of AI,” said Elisa Stephens, President of the Academy of Art University. “As technology increasingly replaces human labor across multiple job sectors, it is crucial that we shift our educational focus to developing creative skills and the role they play in driving success in the 21st-century workplace.”
A large majority of those surveyed expressed confidence in their own creativity, with many valuing their creative abilities above physical or technical skills.
Of those who shared their opinion, only a small proportion of men felt valued for their physical abilities.
When it comes to education and career aspirations, the majority of respondents believed that a four-year college degree is still a significant advantage for young people.
Many cited a lack of self-confidence as the primary reason for not achieving their desired level of education, and considered it to be a more significant obstacle than disabilities, poor grades, or discrimination.
When asked about the best way to reach career goals, a large percentage of men felt that breaking the rules was an advantage, while the majority of women felt that following the rules was the most efficient path to success.
Other key findings include:
- A large majority of people felt that they themselves were the main obstacle to achieving success.
- The majority believed that mental strength was the most important quality for overcoming life’s challenges, more important than financial security, physical strength, or creativity.
- Half of all millennials surveyed believed they had the job of their dreams, a higher percentage than any other generation.
- When broken down by gender, over half of men surveyed felt they had their dream job, while only a third of women shared this sentiment.
